Life in the Woods: Thoreau-Inspired Serene Garden Retreat

By Delana

Great art inspires more great art, and designer Nils Holger Moormann used a classic work of literature to inspire a lovely piece of architecture. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden; or, Life in the Woods was a story about one man’s love affair with nature. Moormann built Walden, this quirky but sophisticated piece of outdoor furniture, to allow others to enjoy nature and a simple life.

The structure looks a bit like a very tall, narrow garden shed. Various cutouts and storage spaces, all open to the world, display all sorts of things that you might associate with a pleasant, simple day outdoors.

A birdhouse sits in one cutout while another holds drinking glasses. Gardening tools are displayed as though they are pieces of art. A dedicated space for firewood sits directly next to a hanging cauldron which can be used for the requisite summer night campfire and cookout.

After a day of working in the yard is through, a cutout space in the middle of the structure contains seating and a small table. Rich red curtains on either side provide a bit of privacy for those long, intimate conversations shared over glasses of whiskey or wine.

When the conversation becomes slow and the fire dies down, you can climb a wooden ladder to the small sleeping space on the upper level. You can open the clear sunroof to enjoy the wind on your skin, or close it to keep the bugs away while you watch the clouds float by.